88 
CROSS THE RIVER. 
and though these were still of considerable size, yet a 
ledge of rocks extending across the channels enabled 
us to effect a passage to the other side. At the 
place where we crossed, the stream running over 
the rocks was only slightly brackish, and we 
watered our horses there ; had we traced it a little 
further it might possibly have been quite fresh, but 
we had no time for this, for Wylie having taken 
charge of the horses but for a few moments, whilst 
I had been examining the river for a crossing place, 
contrived to frighten them all in some way or other, 
and set them off at a gallop ; the result was, that 
our baggage was greatly disturbed, and many 
things knocked off and damaged, whilst it took us 
some time again to get our horses and re-arrange 
the loads. 
The valley through which the river took its 
course, was rocky, with sheets of granite extending 
in many places to the water’s edge. There was 
abundance of good grass, however, and in its upper 
branches, probably, there might have been some 
considerable extent of pasturage. The trees grow- 
ing upon the margin, were the paper-barked tea- 
tree, and the bastard gum. 
Leaving the river, and proceeding over an undu- 
lating sandy country, without timber, but covered 
with shrubs, we passed at six miles between two 
small lakes, and in three more descended to a deep 
valley among granite rocks; here we encamped 
after a stage of sixteen miles, with plenty of fresh 
